Russian TV Sounds Like Soviet TV
By Cliff Kincaid
August 20, 2008
Page 2 of 3
"Nearly 90 million pay TV viewers in Europe, North America and South Africa regularly watch Russia Today," the channel's website proclaims. It says it is also available on the main satellite platforms in Britain, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, South Africa, "as well as on cable networks in practically every country of Europe."
A May 8 New York Times article (web site) on Russia Today and its increasing availability in U.S. media markets noted that "The station is part of the state-owned news conglomerate RIA Novosti, and news organizations routinely refer to it as 'state-run,' including The New York Times, which has said it was created to promote 'pro-Kremlin views.'"
But while La Riva's Party for Socialism and Liberation seems to be one of the Kremlin's U.S. favorites at the current time, a close look at the channel's coverage of the Russian invasion of Georgia suggests that Moscow may be hoping for an Obama win.
Interestingly, one Russia Today story (web site) faulted McCain for "largely blaming Russia for the situation" while Barack Obama was said to have "offered what many people called a more balanced approach."
Obama's initial statement, which seemed to meet with Russian approval, declared, "I think it is important at this point for all sides to show restraint and to stop this armed conflict. I think it is very important for the United States to work with the UN Security Council and others in the international community to make sure that we are beginning to bring this conflict to a close."
Of course, Obama was playing into Russian hands with that statement, since Russia has a veto over anything done at the U.N. Security Council.
Russia Today noted, without comment, that a McCain aide called Obama "bizarrely in sync with Moscow."
While Russia Today reports that it may seem like Russia has been "losing the information war" over its invasion of Georgia, it also claims (web site) that "some major newspapers are beginning to tone down their initial anti-Russian stance." It cites articles in The Washington Post, Boston Globe, the British Independent and the French Le Figaro that have been critical of the U.S. and Georgia.
Russia Today also interviewed someone named Matthew Maly, identified as "an American sociologist," as saying that he is "surprised by the media bias over events in South Ossetia" and believes that "a deliberate misinformation campaign was carried out by the United States..."
It turns out that Maly (web site) was born in Moscow and now lives and works there. His own bio says he has worked for the Russian government and on Russian political campaigns.
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